Comparative study of pesticide residue pattern in vegetables grown under IPM and non-IPM practices

Abstract

Pesticide residue persistence pattern in three vegetable crops viz., tomato, cabbage and cauliflower cultivated following previously developed pesticide residue free IPM packages was compared with that, in these crops, cultivated under conventional or non - IPM conditions. It was observed that the vegetables grown as per IPM practices were safer to consume at harvest as compared to those grown as per the conventional cultivation practices with chemical control as the sole means of plant protection. Pesticide residues, if present, were mostly in trace levels (< 0.01 ppm), in vegetables grown by adopting IPM practices, except methomyl and monocrotophos in cabbage where slightly higher levels of residues were observed.